Minneapolis Hotels

After years of obscurity, Minneapolis and St Paul have finally snagged a share of the spotlight, thanks to the efforts of talent like Prince, The Replacements, Garrison Keillor, the filmmaking Coen brothers, and Jesse 'The Body' Ventura, the only US governor (with the possible exception of Arnie) who could pull off a flying scissors kick.

It's said that Mark Twain was the first to call Minneapolis and St Paul the 'Twin Cities,' owing to their proximity (less than a dozen miles apart) along the Mississippi River. The Twin Cities are pure heartland USA - industrious, prosperous, and heavily into sports, shopping and the great outdoors.

Winter can be bitterly cold, forcing warm-blooded creatures into the enclosed Skyways that connect many buildings in downtown Minneapolis and St Paul. December, January and February are the most bone-chilling months, with an average daytime temperature of 25°F (-4°C). The average low temperature in winter is a crisp 5°F (-15°C). In summer and early fall (June to September), the Twin Cities get downright hot, with average daytime temperatures at a balmy 82°F (28°C). The hottest month is July, with temperatures peaking around 85°F (29°C) and air so sticky it glistens. Rainfall is plentiful in summer, with an average 17in (45cm) falling between May and September.